Kick Off: Red Bulls the latest MLS giant to fall in USOC

While there wasn’t as much MLS carnage left by the side of the road in the round of 16 of the US Open Cup as there was a week ago, not everyone survived unscathed on Tuesday night.

The biggest loss? The New York Red Bulls, who fell 3-1 in extra time to the upstart Harrisburg City Islanders. This one had it all: controversy, late goals and another giant slain, this the second one in a week for the City Islanders, who topped the New England Revolution last week.

One of the catalysts of Harrisburg’s big win was actually a guy who could have starred for the Red Bulls – isn’t that how it always works out in this tournament? – in Sainey Touray, who ran himself ragged and scored two goals. His postgame quote said it all: “I’m tired … too much running.”

Next up for the City Islanders is a quarterfinal matchup against Big Brother – literally. The Islanders are the official USL affiliate club of the Philadelphia Union, who notched a dramatic win over I-95 foes D.C. United. Rookie Antoine Hoppenot got the winner in extra time.

Freddy Adu served up the game-winning assist on Hoppenot’s goal, punctuating an emotional night for the Union star. The match served as a bit of a homecoming for Adu, who first made his name in the US on the same field where he played Tuesday night.

The loss was a sobering one for United, who have been arguably the best team in the Eastern Conference this season but still bowed out to a team toiling near the bottom of the table. The conclusion? “We’re not as good as we think we are.”

That wasn’t all that came from this one, however. After a pair of red cards were issued during a late-game scuffle (one each for D.C.’s Brandon McDonald and Philly’s Carlos Valdés), United coach Ben Olsen had some choice comments: “It was a typical Open Cup game. The referees were lousy – they always are – for both teams. Every Open Cup game, it just turns into an absolute circus.” [WATCH HIGHLIGHTS]

And here is the complete USOC bracket and the full results from Tuesday night.

Need more tourney talk? How about the CONCACAF Champions League? First, there are some changes this time around: eight groups, three teams per group, and only one team advances. Next, the five MLS teams involved in this summer’s group stage learned their fates during the CCL draw on Tuesday. Find the complete draw here.

It’s three days and counting until the US national team opens World Cup qualifying against Antigua and Barbuda, and there are no higher expectations this time around than the ones on Clint Dempsey. Check out this profile of the US star, complete with the idea that the Texas-born Dempsey has always been in a race against time to make it this far.